Emeryville Massage School

Betty has 17 years of experience working in the Federal Student Loan field – seven of those years have been with National Holistic Institute. Betty is currently the Coordinator/Supervisor for National Holistic Institute’s Work Study Clinic, where students work on the public to assist in their tuition obligations. “I planned on retiring five years ago, but I can not imagine my life without the students – I may never retire!”

David is a graduate of NHI’s Core Program, where he discovered a newfound love and passion in the healing arts of Massage Therapy. Following graduation and after working in the field for some time, he returned to NHI as a TA and Tutor, where he assisted Students/Staff, both in and out of the classroom. David’s professional experience in the field includes work at a Chiropractic Wellness Clinic, assisting the Chiropractor in a variety of rehabilitative/sports medicine techniques, and at Massage Envy Spa in San Francisco, where he was given the opportunity to further enrich his skill set as a staff trainer in a variety of techniques, including hot stone and assisted stretching. Today, David has realized yet another calling to return to his NHI Family, a calling to contribute as an Instructor and Mentor. Each day, he brings his smile and charisma to the campus. With a background in Political Science, he regularly seeks opportunities to positively impact the NHI community, its Students and Staff, and in his free you will find him immersed in his second passion in life – Dance and Choreography. “A smile is a kind and sincere way to show appreciation.”

Esko’s 10 years of experience in the massage therapy field have been fed by very eclectic knowledge, ranging from fitness training and working with professional athletes to being a Reiki master teacher. One of his best strengths is his unique approach and ability to explain a lesson many different ways. He encompasses massage as an art form and can draw from over ten different modalities during any given session. “I am always learning. NHI has given me a job that I love, in the field of massage therapy, and continues to give me an education ten years later.”

A graduate of both the Core and Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Programs at NHI in Emeryville, Frankie Menzel has been working as a massage therapist since 2010. Growing up with a mother who worked as a physical therapist, Frankie not only inherited her fascination with the human body, but also learned from her what it was to have a compassionate heart. It was this demonstration, of connecting with and helping people who were in need of physical care, which compelled his interest in massage. Frankie’s concentration is on the more clinical aspect of massage, focusing on rehabilitation and realignment bodywork, in order to address issues that recur in people’s lives, while incorporating some esoteric principles of working with the body as well. In addition to his role at NHI Emeryville as an instructor and group mentor, Frankie continues to see regular clients in his thriving practice, appreciative of his ability to bring real-life examples from the industry with him into the classroom. Outside of the classroom, Frankie enjoys exploring local hiking trails, cooking and experimenting with new recipes, and spending quality time with his family. “Massage is where science and art can come together.”

Julie True, a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist, has over 1200 hours of training in massage and holistic health. Since graduating from World School of Massage in 2003, Julie’s focus has been Energy Work and Transformational Bodywork. Julie has enjoyed work in Chiropractic offices, day spas, and corporate companies, such as Google and Apple Inc. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and has been teaching massage since 2005. She has combined her love for travel, study and teaching by leading and attending massage workshops internationally. “My true passion lies in supporting students on their journey of discovering the potential of the human mind, body and spirit.”

Katy Edwards found her passions at an early age -- music, dance and massage. Inspired by her grandmother, a retired nurse, Katy grew up learning how to massage her family, care for her great grandparents and how to have fun doing it. Music and dance is where she finds her self-care and joy. Katy pursued a career in massage in 2002, shortly after graduating high school. She began working in day spas, eventually gravitating toward holistic medicine. She studied Traditional Chinese Medicine theory at the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College in 2008. Katy is also a doula, helping families deliver their babies into the world. “I absolutely love what I do, and I’m fortunate that I learned the value of joy and what a smile can do. The party is where we’re at -- no matter what ails us, laughter truly is the best medicine! I hope to bring that joy and sense of community into my classroom with music and a lively energy because a compassionate, personable, relaxed, confident and healthy massage therapist can make a world of difference in whomever they touch; it’s an honor to do so. I truly feel that giving massage gives back tenfold. I just love everything about it!”

In another life Kelly Seal was a famous dancer. OK not so famous but enjoyed it so much that she got her Bachelor of Arts degree in dance in 1989. Always interested in movement, the body, and its inner workings, Kelly decided to become a massage therapist. Before joining the NHI team, she ran a successful private massage practice while also working for the prestigious, five star Reméde Spa in San Francisco. “Knowledge is a gift. If I can share the gift of massage with others, whether it’s the practical application or theoretical, then it’s serving not only the individual but the greater community.”

Kirsten’s BA’s in both Social Work and Child Psychology nurtured her fascination with the human mind, body, and spirit. A member of the American Massage Therapy Association, she has also pursued her interest in energetic healing by becoming a Level 2 Reiki Practitioner. She has dedicated her life full time to the healing arts, both as an instructor at NHI and as a massage therapist in a variety of settings, including private practice, chiropractic, spa, and corporate/event on-site. “Every person has the energy and capacity to heal themselves and others. It is this conviction which inspires me to teach as well as practice massage.”

Margy graduated NHI in 1992 with the goal of returning as an instructor. She has held a private practice in Alameda for over 25 years, has managed massage programs and worked in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, and performed on-site in the tech industry. Margy shares her work, pro bono in various hospice settings and with cancer patients. In her teaching, Margy's passion for anatomy, physiology and pathology is contagious. Margy has 2 sons, is an avid yogi and professional pastry chef. "Massage therapy is a miraculous blending of science with the art of massage. NHI is an evolutionary institution with truly wonderful intention combined with professionalism."

Melissa is the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) 2010 Teacher of the Year, is also a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist (NCTMB), a member of the Education Committee of the Massage Therapy Foundation, and maintains a private practice in Berkeley, California. A massage therapy instructor since 1991, she is an avid and curious student herself and continually takes advanced massage and anatomy classes. In addition to working with students, she now serves as NHI’s Teacher Training Coordinator. Having worked as a Massage Therapist in a physical therapy clinic and at UC Berkeley, Sports Center, her background includes rehabilitative style massage & Sports Massage. “Graduating from and working for NHI has opened so many doors for me. But of all of my accomplishments as an educator, I am most proud of guiding students who thought that they could not do it, into finding their hidden talents and learning styles. I have found work that I love.”

Patrick was a sprinter at the NCAA D1 level and saw the value and benefit of massage. Looking for a career change he remembered how much he appreciated massage and enrolled at the NHI Emeryville campus where he ended up tutoring students on his way to graduating with honors from the Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Program. Patrick went on to work in private practice that led to various gigs from working in tech companies, backstage at the Outside Lands Music festival and consulting with an orthopedic acupuncturist. During this time Patrick continued to visit campus as a teacher’s assistant until eventually accepting a full time teacher’s position at the Emeryville campus teaching in the ANMT as well as Core program. Patrick grew up in a military household attending 9 different schools from K-12 on 3 different continents and enjoys being able to interact with NHI’s diverse student body.

A lifelong love of dance and a fascination with the human body are what led Renee to pursue a career in massage therapy. After she graduated from NHI Emeryville in 2007, Renee worked in a variety of settings, including integrative wellness centers, acupuncture clinics, and spas. This valuable experience helped her build a successful private practice, which she continues to maintain today, in addition to being a teacher and mentor at NHI. Renee has also practiced Tai Chi for more than a decade and utilizes its principles and philosophies in life and in the classroom. She enjoys inspiring people to feel empowered in themselves, to experience freedom in their bodies, and to feel open to life's possibilities. "What we share here at NHI is so much more than the practice of massage therapy. It’s really about discovering the potential you have within you, and learning to share that in the unique way that only you can do. I feel blessed to love what I do and truly believe that we are changing the world one massage, and one massage therapist, at a time."

Having had a passion for massage therapy for many years, Rio decided to take her skills to the next level by enrolling at NHI Sacramento, and she graduated in 2012 from the Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy program at NHI Emeryville. Since then she has worked with various professionals in the health care industry and currently maintains a thriving private practice, in addition to teaching. Throughout her professional experience, the power of health education and self-care has been the cornerstone of her massage therapy philosophy, and teaching is a natural extension of that philosophy. When she is not engaged in the world of massage, one can find her cruising the backroads on a motorcycle, or lost in the backwoods singing badly with bears. “At NHI I was able to fully embrace my calling in the massage therapy field. NHI not only teaches massage skills, but life skills. I wouldn’t be where I am today without this wonderful school!”